Women and youths key to climate fight, says Tabuya

Women and youths hold the real answers to climate challenges facing communities and Government agencies must start listening to them more closely, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya says.

Speaking during the Climate Finance Proposal Development Write-shop workshop at the Galaxy Hotel and Apartments conference room in Labasa today, Ms Tabuya urged participants from Government ministries and organisations to engage directly with women’s groups when planning climate-related projects.

“Talk to the women and youths in your communities because they know what is happening around them and will be ready to help you and the Government,” Ms Tabuya said.

“It is the women who are the movers and shakers in your communities,” she said.

“I have seen it and know that women are largely the climate entrepreneurs and climate champions in your communities.

“They will tell you what is working and what is not.”

Ms Tabuya shared an example of a climate-related project that failed because women were not consulted during the planning process.

She said a minister had attended the commissioning of footpaths funded and built by a ministry in a village, while Ministry of Information staff gathered community feedback.

“My staff from the Ministry of Information were present to cover the event and gathered some testimonials,” she said.

“They interviewed the village women’s club president and she said clearly that the women were not involved in designing the project and that the project would not work.”

According to Ms Tabuya, the women’s club president explained that the footpaths were visible during low tide but would eventually be submerged and washed away during high tide.

Weeks later, the village requested that the footpaths be raised.

“The red flag came from a woman to the Government to show how it needed to improve,” Ms Tabuya said.

“Climate change effects mean what you face every day.”

She said communities in the North were already experiencing the impacts of climate change through damaged roads, failed crops, affected water sources and disrupted livelihoods.